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' R. W; AI'TKEN.

BRAKE PGETRAGTION ENGINES. E Y

N0. 288,753. Patented N0v.l20,1883.

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. UNITED j STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT w. AITKEN, OERUEEALO, NRW YORK, AssIGNOR OE ONE-HALE To y rIrTs AGRICULTURAL wORKs, OE sAME PLAOE. I

BRAKE` FOR TRACTION-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of `Leid-.ers Patent No. 288,753,.dated November 20, 1883.

` Applicationfiled Julyl, 1883. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom, if may concern: i

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. AI'rKEN, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inBrakes for Traction- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of brakes for tractionengines, and has for its object to produce a reliable brake which will be effective under all circumstances irrespective of the driving-gear.

The traction-wheels are ordinarily provided on their inner sides with gear-wheels, which are driven by `pinions mounted on a countershaft. Heretofore brakes have been applied to this countershaft; but this is objectionable, because the brake is rendered inoperative when a few teeth of the driving-pinionsbreak,` which is liable to happen in ascending or ydescending steep grades, when an effective brake is most necessary to avoid accidents to the machinery and the persons operating the same. Brakes have also been applied to the outer sides of the traction-wheels; but these brakes are not very effective, because they bear only against the spurs Or transverse traction-ribs formed on the faces of the traction-wheels.

My invention is designed to remedy these difficulties 5` and it consists of a brake which is applied to the inner sides of the rims of the traction-wheels, as hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a fragmentary side elevation of the rear portion of a traction-engine provided with my improved brake. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional top plan view of the same. Fig. fi is a vertical section of the brake, on an enlarged scale, in line x x, Fig. 2, looking to the right. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the same parts.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several gures.

A represents the rear portion of the boiler of a traction-engine, B B the traction-wheels, and C C the gear-wheels, secured to the inner sides of the traction-wheels, all of any ordinary and well-,known construction.

of a shaft, E, which extends across the engine on the rear side of the boiler, between the traction-wheels. The shaftEis supported in bearings F, secured to the boiler.

G represents a hand-lever secured to the shaft E for turning it, and provided with a ratchetbar, g, riding over a stud or projection, h, secured to the boiler, or with some other suitable catch device for locking the lever in position when lthe brake-shoes have been tightened.

Upon swinging the lever G in the direction of the arrows in Figs. l and AL the brake-shoes are pressed against the inner sides of the rim b of the traction-wheels, and the ratchet-bar g prevents any retrograde movement of the lever until it is/released from the stud h. The brake-shoes bearing against the inner sides of the rim b have .large bearing-surfaces against the wheels, and are very effective in arresting the movement of the wheels. As the brake mechanism operates directly upon the traction-wheels, it is independent of the drivinggear and not affected by any breakage of the same.

I claim as my inventionl. In a traction-engine,` the combination, with a boiler, A, of traction-wheels B B, arranged on opposite sides of the boiler, brakeshoes D, arranged on the inner faces of the rims of the traction-wheels adjacent to the boiler, `and mechanism attached to the boiler, whereby the brake-shoes are connected and simultaneously pressed against the inner sides of the rims and removed therefrom as desired, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination,with the traction-wheels B B, of the brakeshoes D D, arranged on the inner sides of the rims b of the wheels, crankshaft E, bearings F, and hand-lever G-, substantially as set forth.

ROBERT W. AITKEN.

Witnesses:

JNO. J. BONNER, GHAs. F. GEYER.

It 'is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N o. 288,753, granted November 20, 1883, upon the application of Robert W. Aitken, of Buffalo, New York, for an improvement in Brakes for Traction Engines, an error was committed requiring correction as follows :V The grant should read that the seid patent Wes issued to Robert W. Aitken cmd the Pitts Agrtez'tlturctt Works, to ineke it conform to the iles and records of the ease in the Patent Ofee.

Signed, oountersigned, and sealed this 27th dey of November, A. D. 1883.

[SEAL] M. L. JOSLYN,

Acting Secretary ofthe Interior. `Countersigned:

BnNJ. BUTTERWORTH,

Commissioner of Patents. 

